Seward Keeps Historic Streak Over Neosho Alive
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Neosho County Community College (7-7, 1-5) | 8 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 44 |
|
Seward County Community College (12-4, 4-2) | 11 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 74 |
To put it lightly, the Seward County Lady Saints have had their way with the Neosho County Panthers over the years. The case was no different Wednesday night in the Greenhouse in Liberal as the Lady Saints bolted out to a 35-17 halftime lead on the Panthers before blowing the game wide open in the third and finally putting them away 74-44 in the end to win their 27th straight contest over Neosho to improve to 12-4 on the year.
Things didn't get off to a picture perfect start for the Lady Saints as Neosho scored the first two points of the game and held Seward in check through most of the first quarter to hold an 8-6 lead with under 4:00 to go in the period. Seward found some traction as the quarter came to a close, holding Neosho without a single point for the final 3:51 while going on a 5-0 sprint to take an 11-8 lead after one.
Seward came out ready to go in the second as they scored the first 11 points of the quarter, getting a three from Samm Ashida and a finish on the inside from Joanna Grymek to blow the game open at 22-8 with 6:54 to go in the half. Neosho finally broke a 7:48 scoreless drought with a basket midway through the period, but seven straight points from Seward reserve Leslie Speer stretched the Lady Saints lead to 29-11 moments later. An unlikely hero, Speer continued to lead the Seward charge into the break and at the half it was all Lady Saints, leading the Panthers 35-17.
The Lady Saints shot just 35% in the half, but outscored Neosho 16-2 in the paint and 11-3 off of turnovers. Seward held the Panthers to just 19% shooting in the half and forced 15 first half Neosho turnovers.
Tiani White got the Lady Saints going as the second half began, banging home a three on Seward's first possession to put them up 21 at 38-17. Then it was the Grymek show for the Lady Saints as Neosho had no answer for the 6'7, reigning Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week on the inside as she scored eight points over the next 2:26 to push Seward's lead to 45-20. Five more points for White and a stifling defensive attack for the Lady Saints finished off the quarter for Seward, giving them a 55-24 advantage while holding Neosho without a single field goal in the period.
After dominating the inside in the third quarter, Seward figured they would try their luck from the outside in the fourth and it came up triple sevens for them. Erin Richardson connected four times early in the fourth from downtown and White added another triple to open up the Lady Saints largest lead of the night at 72-35 with 4:49 left on the clock. Neosho found their best success late in the fourth, but it was far too little, far too late for the Panthers as the Lady Saints watched the final seconds tick down on a 74-44 victory in front of their home crowd to win their fourth Jayhawk Conference game of the year.
It was another solid defensive effort for Seward who held Neosho to just 21% shooting on the night and forced 25 Panther turnovers. Seward didn't fare particularly well themselves on offense, shooting just 38% in the win. Richardson rewarded Lady Saints Head Coach Toby Wynn with a season high 16 points in her first career start while White added 16 of her own in the victory. Speer scored a career high 15 off the Lady Saints bench and tied a career high with 8 rebounds. Grymek had another solid game inside for Seward, scoring 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting while notching a double-double with a game high 12 rebounds.
The Lady Saints improve to 12-4 overall and 4-2 in Jayhawk Conference action with the win while Neosho falls to 7-7 overall and 1-5 in league play.
Next up for the Lady Saints is a home date against conference leading Coffeyville on Saturday in the Greenhouse. Seward and the Red Ravens will jump it up at 6:00 with free tickets at McDonald's locations in Liberal.